After the Lok Sabha elections, the results of the assembly elections held in two states have once again given life to the BJP. While BJP is going to form the government for the third time in Haryana with a huge majority, BJP’s seats have also increased in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress, which was hoping to come to power in Haryana, had to be satisfied with the victory it got in Kashmir in alliance with the National Conference.
Congress’ own mistake took it away from power
After the BJP was stuck at 240 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and the Congress seats reached 99, it was believed that the political winds of the country were changing. Public trust in Congress is returning. Political experts were believing that this trend could be seen in the assembly elections also. In this context, Haryana’s election was important. BJP was in power there for 10 years, there was also an anti-incumbency wave against it. That is why BJP had changed its chief ministerial face before the elections and its ally JJP had left it.
The chance of victory was opportune for Congress. Then, in the Lok Sabha elections also, Congress won half the seats and got more votes than BJP. But Congress’s own mistakes once again took it away from power.
overconfidence is a big reason
According to political experts, Congress in Haryana was overconfident, did not take all sections along, and became overly dependent on Bhupendra Hooda. The remaining gap was filled by the lack of alliance with AAP, increasing contenders for Chief Ministership and Selja’s displeasure. Although the NC-Congress alliance has performed well in the Kashmir Valley and if the government is formed, the Congress will also become a partner in it, but if seen, the credit for gaining power there goes only to the National Conference. It is certain that Congress’s decision to forge an alliance with NC was the right one.
Haryana results a lesson for Congress
Haryana’s election results also give many lessons to Congress. As such, it may be safer for him to go ahead with the alliance now. The election strategy should be focused on more than one class instead of any one class so that the chances of success can be wider. Besides, regional leaders will also have to be stopped from dominating the party.
The results will have a psychological impact on political parties in the future, which will also affect their strategy for the upcoming elections. Now elections are to be held in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. BJP will be inspired to make out-of-the-box strategies in these elections too and will also try to succeed in it. On the other hand, in the India camp, although regional parties are more effective in both the states of Jharkhand and Maharashtra, hence Congress will have no option but to move ahead accordingly.
BJP’s slogans are still effective
Be it Haryana or Kashmir, in these elections the parties contesting alone or forming alliances among themselves were not effective. They could not perform well. In Haryana, JJP and Azad Party, INLD-BSP, on the other hand in Kashmir, PDP, which came on its own, was disappointed. That means victory and defeat seemed concentrated between two parties or alliances. Whereas last time the contest was triangular in Haryana and quadrangular in Kashmir. This also shows a new trend.
The performance of BJP in both the states also indicates that its main election slogans like Hindutva, double engine government, nationalism etc. are still effective among the people. Besides, its influence continues among Dalits and OBCs also.
